“Everything was going well, we assembled the perfect team, and suddenly… the film was canceled!” A few days before the event’s release on Netflix, the Nimona team returned to the long road they traveled by producing a feature film adapted from ND Stevenson’s graphic novels of the same name.
The latter imagined his hero at the age of nineteen, when he was going through a deep identity crisis. It was only thanks to the codes of American comics that the latter managed to find his voice by drawing the character that would eventually become Nimona as we know him.
Comics inspired by its author’s identity crisis
“First I drew a page, then three, then ten, and suddenly I realized that this story could make a webcomic, and that’s why I opened the site.recalls the author behind the panel dedicated to the Netflix film by the Annecy Festival. It was also important to me that she wasn’t perfect, because what’s so special about her appearance is that she chose to look that way!
Nimona does have the superpower to change her appearance at will, including borrowing the features of various animals (whale, mouse, rhinoceros, etc.). “When he becomes a giant dragon, he’s only inspired by the monstrous image that the rest of society sends him.” This explains the character creator.
“For the success of the hero, the success of the film was” Nick Bruno, co-director of the film, summarizes. That’s why Nimona’s appearance took a lot of prep work and a lot of reshoots – or test animations – before the project could finally move forward. “Another important point was to stay true to the humorous tone and values of the comics LGBTQIA+ defended the work” continues the latter.
Nimona’s story takes place in a futuristic medieval world. An original setting that allows for the presentation of reactionary ideas about the world, where a character who does not conform to the standards set by society cannot find his place.
“Our film was conceived as a thoughtful love letter to all those who feel different and excluded” sums up the film’s other co-director, Troy Kwan.
Goodbye Disney, hello Netflix
Despite the project’s progress, Nimona was canceled overnight in February 2021 after Disney closed the iconic Blue Sky studio (the Ice Age saga). During the night, film crews found themselves out of work and their goodbyes had to be done remotely due to restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 epidemic.
Behind the scenes, producers and directors still decided not to give up. “We called everyone, our relatives, friends, we were looking for the person who would help us finish the film.explains producer Karen Ryan, before taking on the role of savior in the qualities of producer Megan Ellison, founder of the Annapurna Pictures studio.
“This meeting was closely followed by the arrival of DNEG Animation in the project, and suddenly we only needed a broadcaster”Karen Ryan summarizes. Applause also broke out in the small hall of the Bonlieu Center in Annecy to welcome the attendance of some of the English studio choirs.
Back then, Netflix was the one and only choice for filmmakers because of the promise made by the platform to give them all the tools they needed to finish the film in the best conditions. “They said yes to all of our requests, except for unlimited access to cappuccinos.” Finished with humor by Troy Quane.
The entire team now agrees that the chaotic path the production has taken – as well as his happy end – Create the perfect metaphor for echoing Nimona’s message, available June 30th exclusively on Netflix!
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
